Central Iowa:  HIRTA’s Executive Director Julia Castillo was recently notified through the Iowa Department of Transportation; they will receive $70,720 in grant funding from Federal Transit Administrations Mobility for All Pilot Program. On June 5, 2020, the U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced $3.5 million in grants for to improve mobility and access to public transportation for older adults, people with disabilities and individuals of low income.



FTA's Mobility for All Pilot Program seeks to improve mobility options through employing innovative coordination of transportation strategies and building partnerships to enhance mobility and access to vital community services for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and people of low income.

The grant funded project includes hiring a Mobility Outreach Coordinator, who will be task with implementing and creating several outreach projects. This includes creating a “Do you have Transportation” campaign working with various health clinics and facilities around the HIRTA region, developing a travel training program to help current non-riders feel comfortable riding HIRTA, and creating educational and marketing avenues targeted to a variety of demographics. Other special projects to develop partnerships and explore ways to access service enhancements will be another area of focus.



HIRTA’s Executive Director, Julia Castillo stated “This is an exciting opportunity for HIRTA to receive funding specifically dedicate someone to working on various projects throughout our region, enhance our services, marketing methods and educational opportunities. We are thankful for the Iowa Department of Transportation, Public Transit Bureau, for helping with application submittal and very grateful to the U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), for awarding funding to our project.”   

Contract HIRTA Public Transit, Julia Castillo, Executive Director jcastillo@ridehirta.com or 515-309-9281